The recent movement for the rights of Janajaati peoples in Nepal led by the Human Rights Activist and patron World Newah Organisation (WNO), Padma Ratna Tuladhar clearly addresses the ‘United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’. The movement does not stand out for personal interest and political interest; however, it stands out solely for the interest of all Nepalese people. In consequence, the WNO’s attention has been drawn in the current context of the Janajati movement. Since the WNO focuses on preservation and promotion of Newah identity as a whole in the world, and believes its slogan ‘In defense of Newah Civilization’, the organization supports the recent movement, and urges Nepal Government to address the issues that are confronting the Newah community in homeland and abroad.

The issue of Janajaati people has become a matter of concern, because the structure and geographical features of Nepal and governmental agenda were not abided by the goals of the UNO’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The issue of Indigenous people in Nepal has not been addressed properly. Some movements like demonstration and shut down took place one after another, but the gist of the demand set forth by the indigenous communities never practically been implemented correctly. Pretension of agreements of plans and projects for indigenous community is seen to be happening in each change of government since the 1990’s mass movement, but the adoption has not been fully fulfilled. As long as Newah people of Nepal are not fully recognized and addressed in a timely manner in the mainstream of national development and opportunities in gross national achievements, the WNO continues to support the current declaration of Non-agreement based movement of Janajaati people.

28 Kachala 1135 Nepal Samvat (20 November 2014)

Dr. Bal Gopal Shrestha
President
World Newah Organization